Considerations on keeping negroes; recommended to the professors of Christianity, of every denomination. Part second. By John Woolman. [Four lines from Deuteronomy]

CONSIDERATIONS

ON KEEPING

NEGROES ;

f f

Recommended to the Professors of

CHRISTIANITY, of every Denomination .

PART SECOND.

By JOHN W 0 0 L M A N,

Te Jhall not refpeft IPer Jons in Judgment ; but you Jhall
hear the Small as well as the Great : Ton Jhall not be
afraid of the Pace of Man ; for the Judgment is
God’s. Deut. i. 17.

P HILAD E LP HI A:

T t

Printed by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. 1762;

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[ 3 ]

THE

P R E F A e

L L otir AEtions are of like Nature with
their Root ; and the Mofi High weigheth
them more Jkilfully than Men can weigh them one
for another.

I believe that one Supreme Being made and fup-
ports the World ; nor can I worjhip any other Deity
without being an Idolater , and guilty of Wickednefs.

Many Nations have believed in, and worfioipped
a Plurality of Deities j but I do not believe they
were therefore all wicked. — Idolatry indeed is Wick*-
ednefs j but it is the Thing , not the Name , , which
is Jo. Real Idolatry is to pay that Adoration to a
Creature , which is known to be due only to the true
God.

He who profejfeth to believe in one Almighty Crem¬
ator, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and is yet
more intent on the Honours, Profits and Fnendfhips
of the World, than he is in Singlenefs of Heart to
ftand faithful to the Chriftian Religion, is in the
Channel of Idolatry -, while the Gentile, who, under
fome mifiaken Opinions, is notwithflanding efiablijh -
ed in the true Principle of Virtue, and humbly adores
an Almighty Power, may be of that Number who
fear God, and work Right eoufnefs*

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1 believe the Bifhop of Rome affiumes a Power.,
that does not belong to any Officer in the Church of
Christ ; and if I jhould knowingly do an Thing,
tending to flrengfhen him in that Capacity , it would
be great Iniquity. There are many I he u funds of
People , who by their Profeffion acknowledge tun to
be the Reprefentative of Jesus Christ on Earth ;
and to fay that none of them are upright in Heart,
would be contrary to my Sentiments.

Men who fine ere ly apply their Minds to true Vir¬
tue, and jmd an inward. Sutfort from above, by
which ah vicious Inclinations are made fubjeci ; that
they love God facer ely, and prefer the real Good of
Mankind umverfally to their own private Intereji ;
though type, through Use Strength of Education and •
Tradition , may remain under fame fpeculative and
great Errors, it would be uncharitable to fay , that
therefore God rejeBs them. - He who creates ,

i • _ _ . J

fc/ * » v 1/ / U \rlr t 1/ J ^

Supports and gives TJnderftanding to all Men, his
Knowledge and Goodnefs is Juperior to the various
Cafes and Circumfances of his Creatures , which t&
its appear the mof difficult.

The Apojiles and primitive Chrifians did not cen-
fure all the Gentiles as wicked Men, Rom. ii. i y.
Cos. iii. 2. but as they were favoured with a Gift
to dijeern Things more clearly , refpeSling the Wor-
ftnp of the true God, they with much Pvrmnefs de¬
clared againf the wor/hiping of Idols ; and with true
Patience endured many Sufenngs , on that Account.

Great Numbers of f aithf ul Protefants have con¬
tended for the Truth , in Oppoftion to Papal Errors ;
and with true Fortitude . laid down their Lives in

the

[ 5 ] /

the Conflicts without faying, That no Man was
faved who made Profcjficn oj that Religion .

// bile we have no Right to keep Men as Servants
for Term of Life , but that of fuperior Power ; to
do th s, with De/ign by their Labour to profit our-
feives and our Families , I believe is wrong ; but 1
do not believe that all who have kept Slaves , have
therefore been chargeable with Guilt , If their Mo¬
tives thereto were free from Selffhnejs , and their
Slaves content , they were a Sort of Freemen ; which
I believe hath fometimes been the Cafe .

Whatever a Man does in the Spirit of Charity ,
to him it is not Sin : And while he lives and alls in
this Spirit , he learns all Things efjential to his Hap -
pinefs , as an Individual : And if he doth not fee
that any Injury or Injufice, to any other Perfon, is
neceffarily promoted by any Part of his Form of Go¬
vernment, I believe the merciful fudge will not lay
Iniquity to his Charge . Yet others , who live in the
fame Spirit of Charity, from a clear Convincement ,
may fee the Relation of one Thing to another, and
the necefary Tendency of each ; and hence it may be
ahfoluteiy binding on them to defift from feme Farts
of Ccnducl, which feme good Men have been in.

CONSIDER-

[ 7 ]

CONSIDERATIONS

On Keeping

NEGROES, Sec.

AS fome in moft religious Societies a-
mongft the Englijh are concerned in
importing or purchafing the Inhabitants
of Africa as Slaves ; and as the Profef-
fors of Chriftianity of feveral other Nations do
the like ; thefe Circumftances tend to make Peo¬
ple lefs apt to examine the Practice fo clofely as
they would, if fuch a Thing had not been, but
was now propofed to be entered upon. It is
however our Duty, and what concerns us indi¬
vidually, as Creatures accountable to our Creator,
to employ rightly the Underilanding which he
hath given us, in humbly endeavouring to be ac¬
quainted with his Will concerning us, and with
the Nature and Tendency of thofe Things which
we pradtife : For as Juftice remains to be Juftice,
fo many People, of Reputation in the World,
joining with wrong Things, do not excufe others
in joining with them, nor make the Confequencc
of their Proceedings lefs dreadful in the final If~
fue, than it would be otherwife.

A 4

Where

L ° J

Where Unrighteoufnefs is juftified from one
Age to another, it is like dark Matter gathering'
into Clouds over us. We may know that this
Gloom will remain till the Caufe be removed bv
a Reformation, or Change of Times , and may
feel a Defire, from a Love of Equity, to fpeak
on the Occafion ; yet where Error is fo ftrono-
that it may not be fpoken again# without fome
XToipect of Inconvenience to the Speaker, this
difficulty is likely to operate on our Weaknefs
and quench the good Defires in us ; except we
dwell fb fteadily under the Weight of it, as to be
made willing to endure Hardnefs on that Account.

Where Men exert their Talents again# Vi¬
ces generally accounted luch, the ill Effects
whereof are prefently perceived in a Government,
ail Men who regard their own temporal Good
are likely to approve the Work. But when that
whicn is mconliftent with perfect Equity, hath
the Law, or Countenance of the Great in its Fa¬
vour, though the Tendency thereof be quite
contrary to the true Happinefs of Mankind in
an equal, if not greater, Degree, than many
Things accounted reproachful to Chrittians ; yet
as thefe ill Effeds are not generally perceived
they who labour to dilfuade from fuch Things’
which I eople believe accord with their In ter e#*

to encounter.

The repeated Charges, which Goo gave to
his Prophets imply the Danger they were in of
ernng on this Hand. Be not afraid of their
Futcs ; Jor 1 am with thee , to deliver thee faith
the Lord, Jer. i. 8. Speak all the Words

' T

command

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[ 9 }

femmand thee to fpeak to them ; diminijh not a
Word, Jer. Sxvi. 2. And thou Son of Man , be
not afraid oj them, nor difmayed at their Looks', .
Speak my Words to them, ’whether they will hear
or forbear, Ezek. ii. 6. ' ">

Under an Apprehenfion of Duty, I offer
fome further Confiderations on this Subject,
having endeavoured iome Years to confider it
candidly. 1 have obferved People of our own Co¬
lour, whole Abilities have been inferior to the
Affairs which relate to their convenient Sub-
ffffence, who have been taken Care of by others,
and the Profit of fuch Work as they could do,

applied toward their Support. - 1 believe there

are fuch amongft Negroes ; and that fome People,
in whole Hands they are, keep them with no
View of outward Profit, do not confider them as
black Men, who, as fuch, ought to ferve white
Men j but account them Perfons who have Need
of Guardians, and as luch take Care of them :

* i

Yet where equal Care is taken in all Parts of
Education, I do not apprehend Cafes of this Sort
are likely to occur more frequently amongft one
Sort of People than another.

1

It looks to' me that the Slave Trade was
founded, and hath generally been carried on, in
a wrong Spirit ; that the Effects of it are detri¬
mental to the real Profperity of our Country;
and will be more fo, except we ceafe from the
common Motives of keeping them, and treat
them in future agreeable to Truth and pure
Juftice.

Neoroes may be imported, who, for their
Cruelty to their Countrymen, and the evil Dif-

pnfition

m

pofition of their Minds, may be unfit to be at
Liberty ; and if we, as Lovers of Righteoufnefs,
undertake the Management of them, we fhould
have a full and clear Knowledge of their Crimes,
and of thofe Circumftances which might operate
in their Favour ; but the Difficulty of obtaining
this is fo great, that we have great Reafon to be
cautious therein. But, fhould it plainly appear
that abfolute Subjection were a Condition the moil
proper for the Perfon who is purchafed, yet the
innocent Children ought not to be made Slaves,
becaufe their Parents finned.

We have Account in Holy Scripture of fome
Families buffering, where mention is only made
of the Heads of the Family committing Wicked-
nefs ; and it is likely that the degenerate Jews ,
mifunderftanding lome Occurrences of this Kind,
took Occalionto charge God vdith being unequal;
fo that a Saying became common, The Fathers
have eaten -four Grapes , and the Childrens Teeth
are Jet on Edge. Jeremiah and Ezekiel , two of
the infpired Prophets, who lived near the fame
Time, were concerned to corredt this Error.
Ezekiel is large on the Subject. Firft, he re¬
proves them for their Error. What mean ye, that
ye do jo. Chap, xviii. Verfe i. As I live, faith
the Lord God , ye Jhall not have Occafon any more to
uj'e this Proverb in Ifrael. The Words, any more ,
have Reference to Time paff ; intimating, that
though they had not rightly underftood fome
Things they had heard or feen, and thence fup-
poled the Proverb to be well grounded ; yet
henceforth the. might know of a Certainty, that

the

.

[ 11 3

the Ways of God are all equal ; that as fure as
the Moft High liveth, fo lure Men are only

aniwerable for their own Sins. - He thus fums

up the Matter ; I he Soul that Jinneth, it Jhalldie.

' The Son Jhall not bear the Iniquity of the Father ;
neither Jhall the Father bear the Iniquity of the Son.
The Right eoufnefs of the Righteous Jhall be upon him ;
and the Wickednejs of the Wicked Jhall be upon him.

, Where Men are wicked, they commonly are
a Means of corrupting the fucceeding Age ; and
thereby haften thofe outward Calamities, which
fall on Nations, when their Iniquities are full.

Men may purfue Means which are not agree¬
able to perfedt Purity, with a View to increafe the
Wealth and Happinefs of their Offspring, and
thereby make the Way of Virtue more difficult
to them. And though the ill Example of a Pa¬
rent, or a Multitude, does not excufe a Man in
doing Evil, yet the Mind being early impreffed
with vicious Notions and Practices, and nurtured
up in Ways of getting Treafure, which are not
the Ways of Truth ; this wrong Spirit getting
firft Poffeffion, and being thus ftrengthened, fre¬
quently preverits due Attention to the true Spirit
of Wifdom, fo that they exceed in Wickednefs
thofe before them. And in this Channel, though
Parents labour, as they think, to forward the
Happinefs of their Children, it proves a Means of
forwarding their Calamity. This being the Cafe
in the Age next before the grievous Calamity in
the Siege of Jerufalem, and carrying Judah Cap-;
live to Babylon , they might fay with Propriety,
This came upon us, becaufe our Fathers forfook:
' ' ' God

1

[ 12 ]

God, and becaufe we did worfe than our Fa-
thers.

As the Generation next before them inwardly
turned away from God, who yet waited to be
gracious ; and as they in that Age continued in
thofe Things which neceffirily feparated from
perfect Goodnefs, growing more ftubborn, till the
Judgments of God were poured out upon them j
they might properly fay, Our Fathers have finned,
and we have borne their Iniquities : And yet, wick¬
ed as their Fathers were, had they not lucceeded
them in their Wickednels, they had not borne
their Iniquities.

To fuppofe it right, that an innocent Man
fhall at this Day be excluded from the common
Rules of Juftice ; be deprived of that Liberty,
which is the natural Right of human Creatures ;
and be a Slave to others during Life, on Account
of a Sin committed by his immediate Parents j or
a Sin committed by Ham , the Son of Noah ; is a
Suppolition too grofs to be admitted into the Mind
of any Perfon, who lincerely delires to be go¬
verned by folid Principles.

It is alledged, in Favour of the Practice, that
fofma made Slaves of the Gibeonites.

What Men do by the Command of God,
and what comes to pals as a Confequence of their
Negledt, are different ; fuch as the latter Cafe
now mentioned was.

It was the exprefs Command of the Almighty
to Ifrael, concerning the Inhabitants of the pro-
mifed Land, Thou Jhalt make no Covenant with
them , nor with their Gods : They jhall not dwell in

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fl&y Land, Exod. xxiii. 32. Thofe Gibeonites came
Craftily, telling fofua , that they were come front
a far Country ; that their Elders had fent them
to make a League with the People of Ifrael \ and
as an Evidence of their being Foreigners, fhewed
their old Cloaths, c dc. And the Men took of their
ViAuals, and afked not CounJ'el at the Mouth of the
Lord ; and Joffiua made Peace with them , and
made a League with them , to let them live ; and the
Princes fware to them.

When the Impolition was difcovered, the Con¬
gregation murmured againft the Princes : But all
the Princes j aid to all the Congregation , we have
fworn to them by the Lord God of lfrael ; now there¬
fore we may not touch them ; we will even let them
live , left Wrath be upon us ; but let them be Flow¬
ers of Wood, a?:d Drawers of Water unto the Con¬
gregation.

Omitting to alk Counfel, involved them in1
great Difficulty. The Gibeonites were of thofe
Cities, of which the Lord faid, cFhou fait fave
alive nothing that breatketh 5 and of the Stock of
the Hivites, concerning whom he commanded
by Name, Them fhalt J'mite them, and utterly de¬
fray them : Thou fait make no Covenant with them ,
nor few Mercy unto them, Deut. vii. 1. Thus
fofua and the Princes, not knowing them, had
made a League with them, to let them live ; and
in this Strait they refolve to make them Servants.
fofua and the Princes fufpedted them to be De¬
ceivers : Peradventure you dwell amongft us ; and
how fall we make a League with you I Which
Words fhew, that they remembered the Com¬
mand

[ H ] ;

mand before mentioned ; and yet did not enquire
at the Mouth of the Lord, as Mcfes directed fo~
Jhua , when he gave him a Charge refpedting his
Duty as chief Man among that People, Numb.
xxvii. 2i. By this Omiffion Things became lb
htuated, that jojbua and the Princes could not
execute the judgments of God on them, without
violating the Oath which they had made.

Mofes did a mils at the Waters of Meribah ;
and doubtlefs he loon repented j for the Lord
was with him. And it is likely that JoJhua was
deeply humbled, under a Senfe of his Omiffion ;
for it appears that God continued him in his Of¬
fice, and fpared the Lives of thole People, for the
Sake of the League and Oath made in his Name.

The Wickednefs of thefe People was great,
and they worthy to die, or perfedt Juffice had
not palled Sentence of Death upon them ; and as
their Execution was prevented by this League and
Oath, they appear content to be Servants : As it
Jeemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us., do.

These Criminals, inftead of Death, had the
Sentence of Servitude pronounced on them, in
thefe Words, Now therefore ye are curfed ; and
there / bail none oj you be freed from being Bond -
men , and Hewers of Wood, and Drawers of Water
for the Houje of my God.

We find, Deut. xx. io. that there were Cities
far difiant from Canaan , againft which Ifrael went
to Battle ; unto whom they were to proclaim
Peace, and if the Inhabitants made Anfwer of
PTace, and opened their Gates, they were not to
deftroy them, but make them Tributaries.

The

[ *5 1

The Children of Ifrael were then the Lord’s
Hoft, and Executioners of his Judgments on Peo¬
ple hardened in Wickednefs. — They were not to
go to Battle, but by his Appointment. The Men
who were chief in his Army, had their In ft rue-'
tions from the Almighty ; fometimes immediate¬
ly, and fometimes by the Miniftry of Angels. Of
thefe, amongft others, were Mofes , Joftoua, Othniel ,
and Gideon ; See Exod. iii. 2. and xviii. 19. Jofh.
v. 1 3 . Thefe People far off from Canaan, againft
whom Ifrael was fent to Battle, were fo corrupt,
that the Creator of the Univerfe faw it good to
change their Situation ; and in cale of their open¬
ing their Gates, and coming under Tribute, this
their Subjection, though probably more mild than
abfolute Slavery, was to laft little or no longer
than while IJ'rael remained in the true Spirit of
Government.

It was pronounced by Mofes the Prophet, as _
a Confequence of their Wickednefs, The Stranger
that is within thee fhall get above thee very high ;
and thou fhalt come down very low : He fhall be the
Head, and thou the Tail.

This we find in fome Meafure verified in their
being made Tributaries to the Moabites, Midi an-
ites, Amorites and Philijlines.

It is alledged in Favour of the Practice of
Slave-keeping, that the Jews by their Law made
Slaves of the Heathen, Levit. xxv. 45. More¬
over, of the Children of the Stranger that do fojourn
among ft you, of them fhall ye buy, and of their
Children, which are with you , which they beget in
your Land j and they Jhall be your Poffeffton j and

you

[ 16 ]

* r ’ t ‘ /

you Jhall take them as an Inheritance for your Chil¬
dren after you , to inherit them as a Fof'efion , they

fait he your Bondmen for ever . - It is difficult

for us to have any certain Knowledge of the Mind
of Mofes , in Regard to keeping Slaves, any other
Way than by looking upon him as a true Servant
of God, whofe Mind and Conduct were regu¬
lated by an inward Principle of Juftice and Equi¬
ty. To admit a Suppofition that he in that Cafe
was drawn from perfedl Equity by the Alliance
of outward Kindred, would be to difown his Au¬
thority.

Abraham had Servants born in his Houfe, and
bought with his Money : And the Almighty faid
of Abraham , I know hi?n , that he will order his
Houfe after h m. Which implies, that he was as
a Father, an Inftrudtor, and a good Governor

over his People. - And Mofes , confidered as a

Man of God, muft neceflarily have had a Frof-
pedt of fome real Advantage in the Strangers and
Heathens being Servants to the Jfraelites for a
Time.

As Mankind had received and eftablifhed ma¬
ny erroneous Opinions and hurtful Caftoms,
their living and ccnverfmg with the Jews , while
the Je ws flood faithful to their Principles, might
be helpful to remove thofe Errors, and reform

their Manners. - But for Men, with private

Views, to afiume an abfolute Power over the
Perfons and Properties of others ; and continue it
from Age to Age in the Line of natural Genera¬
tion, without Regard to the Virtues and Vices of
their Succelfors, as it is manifeftly contrary to true

univerfal

I J7 ]

univerfal Love, and attended with great Evils,’
there requires the cleared: Evidence to beget a
Belief in us, that Mofes intended that the Srangers
Ihould as fuch be Slaves to the Jews.

He diredted them to buy Strangers and So¬
journers. - It appears that there were Strangers

in Ifrael who were free Men ; and confidering
with what Tendernefs and Humanity the Jews ,
by their Law, were obliged to ufe their Servants,
and what Care was to be taken to inftrudt them
in the true Religion, it is not unlikely that fome
Strangers in Poverty and Diftrefs were willing to
enter into Bonds to ferve the Jews as long as they
lived ; and in fuch Cafe the Jews, by their Law,
had a Right to their Service during Life.

When the Awl was bored through the Ear of
the Hebrew Servant, the Text faith, He foall ferve
for ever ; yet we do not fuppofe that by the Word
for ever, it was intended that none of his Pofteri-
ty Ihould afterwards be free ; when it is faid in
Regard to the Strangers which they bought, Yhey
Jhall be your PoffeJJion, it may be well underftood
to mean only the Perfons. fo purchafed ; all pre¬
ceding relates to buying them ; and what follows,
to the Continuance of their Service. You foall
take them as an Inheritance to your Children after
you ; they foall be your Bondmen for ever. It may
be well underftood to ftand limited to thofe they
purchafed.

Mofes, directing Aaron and his Sons to wafh
their Llands and Feet, \ when they went into the
Tabernacle of the Congregation, faith, It foall be
a Statute for ever to them, even to him and his Seed

JB through -

[ 1 8 J

throughout all Generations. And to exp refs (fie-
Continuance of the Law, it was his common
Language, It Jhall be a Statute for ever throughout
your Generations. So that had he intended the
Pofterity of the Strangers fo purchafed to conti¬
nue in Slavery to the Jews , it looks likely that
he would have ufed fome Terms clearly to ex-
prefs it. The Jews undoubtedly had Slaves,.,
whom they kept as fuch from one Age to ano¬
ther 5 but that this was agreeable to the genuine
Defign of their infpired. Law-giver, is far from,
being a clear Cafe..

Making ConftrueFions of the Law contrary
to the true Meaning of it, was common amongft.

that People. - Samuel’s, Sons took Bribes, and

perverted Judgment. - Ifaiah complained that

they juftified the Wicked for Reward. -

fhaniah, Cotemperary with Jeremiah , on Account
of the Injuftice of the civil Magiftrates, declared
that thole Judges v/ere Evening Wolves ; and’
that the Priefts did Violence to the Law.

Jeremiah acquaints us, that the Priefts cried
Peace, Peace, when thfcre was no Peace; by
which Means the People grew . bold in their
Wickednefs ; and having committed Abomina¬
tions, were not afhamed ; but, through wrong
Conftrudtions of the Law, they juftified them-
felves, and boaftingly faid, We are wfe ; and the
Law of the Lord is with us. Thefe Corruptions,
continued till the Days of our Saviour, who told
the Pharifees , Tou have made the Commandment of
God of none Ejj'edl through your Tradition.

Thus.-:

[ J9 1

Thus it appears that they corrupted the Law
of MoJ'es ; nor is it unlikely that among many
others this was one ; for oppreffing the Strangers
was a heavy Charge againft the Jews, and very
often lhongly reprefented by the Lord’s faithful
Prophets.

That the Liberty of Man was, by the in-
fpired Law-giver, efteemed precious, appears in
this ; that fuch who unjuftjy deprived Men of it,
were to be punifhed in like Manner as if they
had murdered them. He that jlealeth a Many
and felleth him ; or if he be found in his Handy
jhall Jurely be put to Death. This Part of the
Law was fo considerable, that Paul , the learned
Jew , giving a brief Account of the Uies of the
Law, adds this, It ‘was made for Men-jlealers ,
i Tim. i. io.

The great Men amongft that People were ex-
ceeding oppreffive 3 and, it is likely, exerted
their whole Strength and Influence to have the
Law conftrued to fuit their Turns. - The ho¬

ned: Servants of the Lord had heavy Work with
them in regard to their OpprefTion 3 a few In¬
dances follow. Thus faith the Lord of Hofls, the
God of Ifraely amend your Ways , and your Doings ;
and 1 will caufe yon to dwell in this Place . If you
throughly execute Judgment between a Man and
his Neighbour y if you opprejs not the Stranger y
the Father lefs and the Widow 3 and Jhed not inno¬
cent Blood m th s Place 3 neither walk after other
Gods to four Hurt , then will I caufe you to dwell in
this Place , jer. vii. — * — Again a Mefiage was fent
not only to the inferior Minifters of juftice, but

B 2 alfo

f 20 |

alio to the chief Ruler. 'Thus faith the Lord, go
down to the Houfe of the King of Judah, and [peak
there this Word j execute ye Judgment and Rigbteouf-
nefs, and deliver the Spoiled out of the Hand of the
Opprcfor j and do no Wrong j do no Violence to the
Stranger, the Fatherlefs and the Widow ; neither
jhed innocent. Blood in this Place. Then adds,
Lhat in fo doing they Jhould profper ; but if ye will
not hear thefe Words, I fwear by my f elf , faith the
Lord, that this Houfe jhall become a Deflation ,
Jer. xxii.

The King, the Princes and Rulers were a-
greed in Oppreffion before the Babylonijh Capti¬
vity ; for whatever Courts of Juftice were retain¬
ed amongft them ; or however they decided Mat¬
ters betwixt Men of Eftates, it is plain that the
Caufe of the Poor was not judged in Equity.

It appears that the great Men amongft the
Jews were fully refolved to have Slaves, even of
their own Brethren, Jer. xxxiv. Notwithftand-
ing the Promifes and Threatenings of the Lord,
by the Prophet, and their folemn Covenant to
fet them free, confirmed by the Imprecation of
pafiing between the Parts of a Calf cut in twain ;
intimating, by that Ceremony, that on Breach of
the Covenant, it were juft for their Bodies to be
fo cut in Pieces. — Yet after all, they held faft to
their old Cuftom, and called Home the Servants
whom they had let free. — And ye were now turn¬
ed, and had done right in my Sight, in proclaiming
Liberty every Man to his Neighbour ; and ye had
made a Covenant before me, in the Houfe which is
called by my Name j but ye turned, and polluted my

Name ,

[ 21 ]

Name , and caufed every Man bis Servant , m&ww
be had Jet at Liberty at their Plea jure, to return ,
brought them into SubjeSlion , to be unto you
for Servants, and for Handmaids : Therefore thus
faith the Lord, ye have not hearkened unto me, in
proclaiming Liberty every one to his Neighbour, and
every one to his Brother. Behold, I proclaim Li¬
berty to you, faith the Lord, to the Sword, to the
Pejlilence, and to the Famine ; and I will make you
to be removed into all the Kingdoms of the Earth.—.
The Men who tranfgrejfed my Covenant which they
made, and pafjed between the Parts of the Calf, l
will give into the Hands of their Enemies, and their
dead Bodies Jhall be for Meat unto the Fowls of the
Heaven, and the Be aft s of the Earth.

Soon after this their City was taken and burnt ;
the King’s Sons and the Princes flain ; and the
King, with the chief Men of his Kingdom, car-
. ried Captive to Babylon. — Ezekiel, prophefying the
Return of that People to their own Land, directs,
Te Jhall divide the Land by Lot, for an Inheritance
unto you, and to the Strangers that fojourn amongfl
you ; in what T nbe the Stranger fojourns, there
Jhall ye give him his Inheritance, faith the Lord
God. Nor is this particular Diredion, and the
Authority with which it is enforced, without a
tacit Implication, that their Anceftors had erred in
their Condud towards the Stranger.

Some who keep Slaves, have doubted as to the
Equity of the Pradice ; but as they knew Men,
noted for their Piety, who were in it, this, they
fay, has made their Minds eafy.

* 0* \ .* ^

[ 22 ]

To lean on the Example of Men in doubtful
Cafes, is difficult : For only admit, that thofe
Men were not faithful and upright to the higheft
Degree, but that in fome particular Cafe they
erred, and it may follow that this one Cafe was the
fame, about which, v/e are in Doubt; and to
quiet our Minds by their Example, may be dan-
ge ous to ourfelves ; and continuing in it, prove
a Stumbling-block to tender-minded People who
fucceed us, in like Manner as their Examples are
to us.

But fuppofmg Charity was their only Motive,
and they not forefeeing the Tendency of paying
Robbers for their Booty, were not jufbly under the
Imputation of being Partners with a Thief, Prov.
xxix. 24. but were really innocent in what they
did, are we allured that we keep them with the
fame Views they kept them ? If we keep them
from no other Motive than a real Senfe of Duty,
and true Charity governs us in ail our Proceedings
toward them, we are fo far fa fe : But if another
Spirit, which inclines our Minds to the Ways of
this World, prevail upon us, and we are con¬
cerned for our own outward Gain more than for
their real Happinefs, it will avail us nothing that
fome good Men have had the Care and Manage-

O O

mcnt of Negroes .

o

Since Mankind lpread upon the Earth, many
have been the Revolutions attending the feveral
Families, and their Cuftoms and Ways of Life
different from each other. This Diverfity of Man¬
ners, though fome are preferable to others, ope¬
rates not in Favour of any, fo far as to juftify them

to

[ 23 ]

to do Violence to innocent Men ; to bring thcni
from their own to another Way of Life. The
Mind, when moved by a Principle of true Love,
may feel a Warmth of Gratitude to the univerfal
.Father, and a lively Sympathy with thofe Nations,
where Divine Light has been lefs manifefh

This Defire for their real Good may beget a
Willingnefs to undergo Hardfhips for their Sakes,
that the true Knowledge of God may be fpread
amongft them : But to take them from their own
Land, with Views of Profit to ourfelves, by Means
inconfiftent with pure Juftice, is foreign to that
Principle which feeks the Happinefs of the whole
Creation. ForcedSubjedtion, on innocent Perlons
of full Age, is inconfiftent with right Reafon ; on
one Side, the human Mind is not naturally forti¬
fied with that Firmnefs in Wifdom and Goodnefs,
neceffary to an independent Ruler ; on the other
Side, to be fubjedt to the uncontroulable Will of
a Man, liable to err, is moft painful and afflidting
.to a confcientious Creature.

It is our Happinefs faithfully to ferve the Di-
wine Being, who made us : His Perfedlion makes
our Service reafonable ; but fo long as Men are
-biafied by narrow Self-love, fo long an ablolute
Power over other Men is unfit for them.

Men, taking on them the Government of
others, may intend to govern reafonably, and
make their Subjedts more happy than they would
he otherwife ; but, as abfolute Command belongs
only to him who is perfedt, where frail Men, in
their own Wills, afiume luch Command, it hath

- • B 4 . ®

f 24*3

a dired Tendency to vitiate their Minds, and
make them more unfit for Government.

Placing on Men the ignominious Title
SLAVE, dreffing them in uncomely Garments,
keeping them to fervile Labour, in which they arc
often dirty, tends gradually to fix a Notion in the
Mind, that they are a Sort of People below us in
Nature, and leads us to confider them as fuch in
all our Conclufions about them. And, moreover,
a Perfon which in our Efleem is mean and con¬
temptible, if their Language or Behaviour to¬
ward us is unfeemly or difrefpedful, it excites
Wrath more powerfully than the like Con dud: in
one we accounted our Equal or Superior} and
where this happens to be the Cafe, it difqualifies
for candid Judgment; for it is unlit for a^Perfon

to fit as Judge in a Cafe where his own perfonal
Refentments are ftirred up ; and, as Members
of Society in a well framed Government, we are
mutually dependant. Prefent Interest incites to
Duty, and makes each Man attentive to the Con¬
venience of others ; but he whofe Will is a Law
to others, and can enforce Obedience by Punifh-
ment; he whofe Wants are fupplied without feel¬
ing any Obligation to make equal Returns to his
Benefactor, his irregular Appetites find an open
jfield for Motion, and he is in Danger of grow-
ing hard, and inattentive to their Convenience
who labour, for his Support ; and fo lofes that
Difpofition, in which alone JVfen are fit to govern.

The Englijh . Government hath been com¬
mended by candid Foreigners for the Difufe of
Racks and Tortures, fq much pradjfed in fome

States i

[ 25 ]

States ; but this multiplying Slaves now leads to
it ; for where People exadt hard Labour of
others, without a fuitable Reward, and are re-
folved to continue in that Way, Severity to fuch
who oppofe them becomes the Confequence ;
and feveral Negroe Criminals, among the Englijh
in America, have .been executed in a lingering,
painful Way, very terrifying to others.

It is a happy Cafe to fet out right, and per-
fevere in the fame Way : A wrong Beginning
leads into many Difficulties ; for to fupport one
Evil, another becomes cuftomary ; two produces
more ; and the further Men proceed in this Way,
the greater their Dangers, their Doubts and'
Fears ; and the more painful and perplexing are
their Circumftances ; fo that fuch who are true
Friends to the real and lafting Intereft of our
Country, and candidly conlider the Tendency of
Things, cannot but feel fome Concern on this
Account.

There is that Superiority in Men over the
Brute Creatures, and fome of them fo manifeftly
dependant on Men for a Living, that for them to
ferve us in Moderation, fo far as relates to the
right Ufe of Thin gs, looks confonant to the De-

O V

fign of our Creator.

There is nothing in their Frame, nothing
relative to the propagating their Species, which
argues the contrary ; but in Men there is. The
Frame of Mens Bodies, and the Difpofition of
their Minds are different ; fome, who are tough
and ftrong, and their Minds adtive, chufe Ways
©f Life requiring much Labour to fupport them ;

others

1

r 26 ]

others are foon weary ; and though Ufe makes
Labour more tolerable, yet home are lefs apt for
Toil than others, and their Minds lefs fprightly.
Thele latter labouring for their Subfiftance, com¬
monly chufe a Life eafy to fupport, being con¬
tent with a little. When they are weary they
iTiay reft, take the moil advantageous Part of the
iOay Li Laboui ^ and m all Calcs proportion one

Thing to another, that their Bodies "be not op-
prefied. 1 '

.Now, while each is at Liberty, the latter may
hz as happy, and live as comfortably as the for-
cner • but where Men of the firft Sort have the
latter under ablblute Command, not conlideriny
the Odds in Strength and Firmnefs, do, fomc-
liiiiGb, m their eager Purluit, lay on Burthens yrie-
vous to be borne ; by Degrees grow rigorous, and,
afpiring to Greatnefs, they increafe °Oppreffion*

and tne true Order of kind Providence is lub-
Verted.

There are Weaknefles fometimes attending
in, wnich make little or no Alteration in our
Countenances, nor much leften our Appetite for
Loon, and yet fo affedt us, as to make Labour ve¬
ry uneafy. In fuch Cafe Matters, intent on
putting forward Bufinefs, and jealous of the Sin-
ccuty or their Slaves, may difbeheve what they
fay, and grievoully afHiCt them.

Ac 1 ion is neceftary lor all IVIen, and our ex—
Iiaufting frame requires a Support, which is the
Fruit of Adtion. The Earth mutt be laboured
to keep us alive : Labour is a proper Part of our
JtW c ; to make one an Twer the other in fome

ufefui

[ 2 7 ]

ufeful Motion, looks agreeable to the Defign of
our Creator. Motion, rightly managed, tends
to our Satisfaction, Health and Support.

Those who quit all ufeful Bufinefs, and live
wholly on the Labour of others, have their Ex-
excife to feek ; fome fuch ufe lefs than their
Health requires ; others chufe that which, by the
Circumftances attending it, proves utterly reverfe
to true Happinefs. Thus, while fome are divers
Ways diftreffed for Want of an open Channel of
ufeful ACtion, thofe who fupport them figh, and
are exhaufted in a Stream too powerful for Na¬
ture, lpenaing their Days with too little Ceffation
from Labour.

Seed l'own with the Tears of a confined op-
preffed People, Harveft cut down by an overborne
difcontented Reaper, makes Bread lefs fweet to <■
the Tafte of an honeft Man, than that which is
the Produce, or juft Reward of fuch voluntary
ACtion, which is one proper Part of the Bufinefs
of human Creatures.

Again, the weak State of the human Spe¬
cies, in bearing and bringing forth their Young,
and the helplefs Condition of their Young be¬
yond that of other Creatures, clearly fhew that
Perfect Goodne/s defigns a tender Care and Re¬
gard (hould be exerciled toward them ; and that
no imperfeCt, arbitrary Power ihould prevent the
cordial EfteCts of that Sympathy, which is, in the
Minds of well-met Pairs, to each other, and
toward their Offspring.

In our Species the mutual Ties of AffeCtion

are more rational and durable than in others be¬
low

• [ 28 3

W us ; the Care and Labour of railing our
Offspring much greater. The Satisfaction arifing
to us in their innocent Company, and in their
Advances from one rational Improvement to
anothei , is conliderable, when two are thus
joined, and their Affections fincere ; it however
happens among Slaves, that they are often fituate
m different Places ; and their feeing each other
depends on the Will of Men, liable to human
Faffions, and a Byas in Judgment ; who. with
Views of Self-interefl, may keep them apart
more than is right. Being abfent from each
othei, and often with other Company, there is a
Danger of their Affections being alienated, Jea»
loufies arifing, the Happinefs otherwife refulting
from their Offspring fruftrated, and the Com-
iOits of Marnabe deftroyed— Thefe Things be-
ing conndeied clofeiy, as happening to a near
Friend, will appear to be hard and painful.

He who reverently obferves that Goodnefs
manifefted by our Gracious Creator toward the
various Species of Beings in this World, will fee,
that in our Fiame and Conftitution is clearly
ihcYvn that innocent Men, capable to manage for
themfelvcs, were not intended to be Slaves.

A Person lately travelling amongfl the Ne,
grocs near Senegal, hath this Remark ; “ Which
“ Way foever I turned my Eyes on this pleafant

Spot, I beheld a perfect Image of pure Na-
“ tUfe > an agreeable Solitude, bounded on every
“ Sicle by charming Landfkips, the rural SituaC
“ don of Cottages in the Midft of Trees, The
f Eafe and Indolence of the Negroes reclined

“ under

I *9 ]

u under the Shade of their fpreading Foliage •
“ the Simplicity of their Drefs and Manners ;
“ the Whole revived in my Mind the Idea of our
“ firft Parents, and I feemed to contemplate the
“ World in its primitive State.” M. Adanfon ,
Page 55-

Some Negroes in thefe Parts, who have had
an agreeable Education, have manifefted a Bright-
nefs of Underftanding equal to many of us, A
Remark of this Kind we find in Bojman , Page
3 28. “ The Negroes of Fida, faith he, are fo

“ accurately quick in their Merchandize Ac-
“ counts, that they eafily reckon as juftly and

quickly in their Heads only, as we with the
“ Affiftance of Pen and Ink, though the Sum
" amounts to feveral Thoufands.”

Through the Force of long Cuftom, it ap¬
pears needful to fpeak in Relation to Colour.- -

Suppofe a white Child, born of Parents of the
meaneft Sort, who died and left him an Infant,
falls into the Hands of a Perfon, who endeavours
to keep him a Slave, fome Men would account
him an unjuft Man in doing fo, who yet appear
eafy while many Black People, of honeft Lives,
and good Abilities, are enflaved, in a Manner
more fhocking than the Cafe here fuppofed.
This is owing chiefly to the Idea of Slavery being
connected with the Black Colour, and Liberty
with the White: — And where falfe Ideas are
twifted into our Minds, it is with Difficulty we
get fairly dilentangled.

A Traveller, in cloudy Weather, mifleth
his Way, makes many Turns while he is loft; ftill'

forms

r 3° }

iorms in his Mind the Bearing and Situation of
Places, and though the Ideas are wrong, they fix as
faft as if they were right. Finding how Things
aie, we fee our Miftake; yet the Force of Reafon,
with repeated Obfervations on Places and Things'
do not foon remove thofe falfe Notions, fo
fattened upon us, but it will feem in the Imagi¬
nation as if the annual Courfe of the Sun was al-
teied; and though, by Recollection, we are af-

fured it is not, yet thofe Ideas do not fuddenly
leave us.

Selfishness being indulged, clouds the Un~
derftanding ; and where fel&lh Men, for a long
Time, proceed on their Way, without Oppofition,
the Deceiveablenefs of Unrighteoufnefs gets fo
rooted in their Intellects, that a candid Exami¬
nation of Things relating to Self-intereft is pre¬
vented ; and in this Circum fiance, fome who
would not agree to make a Slave of a Perfon
whole Colour is like their own, appear eafy in
making Slaves of others of a different Colour,
though their Underflandings and Morals are
equal to the Generality of Men of their own
Colour.

1 he Colour of a Man avails nothing, in Mat¬
ters of Right and Equity. Confider Colour in
Relation to Treaties ; by fuch, Difputes betwixt
Nations are fometimes fettled. And fhould the
Father of us all fo difpofe Things, that Treaties
with black Men fhould fometimes be neceffary,
how then would it appear amongft the Princes
and Ambaffadors, to infill on the Prerogative of
the white Colour ?

Whence

[ r

Whence is it that Men, who believe In a
righteous Omnipotent Being, to whom all Nations
Band equally related, and are equally accountable,
remain fo eafy in it ; but for that the Ideas of Ne¬
groes and Slaves are fo interwoven in the Mind,
that they do not difcufs this Matter with that Can¬
dour and Freedom of Thought, which the Cafe
juftly calls for ?

To come at a rinht Feeling of their Condition-
requires humble ferious Thinking ; for, in theiv
prefent Situation, they have but little to engage
our natural Affection in their Favour.

FI ad we a Son or a Daughter involved in the
fame Cafe, in which many of them are, it would
alarm us, and make us feel their Condition with¬
out leeking for it. The Adverfity of an intimate
Friend will incite our Compaffion, while others,
equally good, in the like Trouble, will but little-
affedt us.

Again, the Man in worldly Flonour, whom
we conlider as our Superior, treating us with
Kindnefs and Generofity, begets a Return c£
Gratitude and Friendfhip toward him. We may
receive as great Benefits from Men a Degree low¬
er than ourfelves, in the common Way of reckon¬
ing, and feel ourfelves lefs engaged in Favour of
them. Such is our Condition by Nature ; and
thefe Things being narrowly ’watched and exa¬
mined, will be found to center in Self-love.

The Blacks feem far from being our Kinsfolks,
and did we find an agreeable Difpofition and
found Underftanding in fome of them, which

appeared as a good Foundation for a true Friend-

r > fhip.

IN

~Y -mm*

■

l i* ]

ftiip between us, the Difgrace arifing from an open
■rriendlhip with a Perfon of fo vile a Stock, in the
common Efteem, would naturally tend to hinder

lt‘~ A.7 have ncither Honours, Riches, out¬
ward Magnificence nor Power; their Drefs coarfe,
and often ragged ; their Employ Drudgery, and
much in the Dirt : They have little or nothing
at Command ; but muff wait upon and work for
others, to obtain the Neceflaries of Life ; fo that,
in their prefent Situation, there is not much to
engage the Friendfhip, or move the AfFedtion of
ielfifh Men . But fuch who live in the Spirit of
true Charity, to fympathife with the Afflidfed in

the lowed: Stations of Life, is a Thing familiar to
them. &

Such is the Eindnefs of our Creator, that Peo¬
ple, applying their Minds to found Wifdom, may,
in general, with moderate Exercife, live comfor-
tably, where no mifapplied Power hinders it.

We in thefe Parts have Caufe gratefully to ac¬
knowledge it. But Men leaving the true Ufe of
Things, their Lives are lefs calm, and have lefs
of real Happinefs in them.

Many are defirous of purchafing and keeping
Slaves, that they may live in fome Meafure con¬
formable to thole Cuftoms of the Times, which
have in them a Tindture of Luxury ; for when
we, in the lead: Degree, depart from that Ufe of
the Creatures, which the Creator of all Things
intended for them, there Luxury begins.

And if we conlider this Way of Life feri-
oudy, we fhall fee there is nothing in it fufhcient
to induce a wife Man to chafe it, before a plain,

fimple

■[33 ]

fimple Way of living. If we examine lately
Buildings and Equipage, delicious Food, fuper-
fine Cloaths, Silks and Linens j if we conlider
the Splendour of choice Metal fattened up n
Raiment, and the mod: Ihowy Inventions of Men,
it will yet appear that the humble-minded Man’
who is contented with the true Ufe of Houles,
Food and Garments, and chearfully exerciieth
hi in fe If' agreeable to his Station in Civil Society,
to earn them, ads more reafonably, and difcovers
more Soundnefs of Underftanding in his Condud,
than fuch who lav heavy Burdens on others, to
fupport themfelves in a luxurious Way of living.

George Buchanan , in his Hi dory of Scotland. \
Page 62, tells of forne ancient Inhabitants of
Britain , who were derived from a People that
had a Way of marking their Bodies, as fome
laid, with Inftruments of Iron, with Variety
“ of Pictures, and with Animals of all Shapes,
and wear no Garments, that they Ihould not
hide their Pidures ; and were therefore called •

“ Pichr

Did we fee thofe People fhrink with Pain, for
a conliderable Time together, under the Point or-
Edge of this Iron Inftrument, and their Bodies
all bloody with the Operation ; did we fee them
fometimes naked, fuffering with Cold, and refufe
to put on Garments, that thofe imaginary Enfigns

of Grandeur might not be concealed, it is likely

we Ihould pity their Folly, and Fondnefs for thole
Things : But if we candidly compare their Con-
dud, in that Cafe, with lome Condud amongfl

C our-

i . 'i

«»>»*# ar

• iKui - ~. ******

I

i

l 34 ]

ourfclves, will it not appear that our Folly is tfrer
ereateft ? 7

In true Gofpel Simplicity, free from all wrong
Ufe ot Things, a Spirit which breathes Peace and
good Wiil is cherifhed ; but when we afpire after
imaginary Grandeur, and apply to felfoh Means
to attain our End, this Defoe, in its Original, is
the fame with the PiSis in. cutting Figures on their
Bodies j; but the evil Confequences attending our
Proceedings are the greatefo

A covetous Mind* which feeks Opportunity
to exalt itfelf, is a great Enemy to true Harmony
in a Country : Envy and. Grudging ufoally ac¬
company this Difpofoion,. and it tends to ftir up
its Likenefs in others.. And where this Difpofi-
tion arifeth fo high,, as to embolden us to look
upon honeft induftrious Men as our own Proper¬
ty during Life, and to keep them to hard Labour,,
to fupport us in thofe Cuftoms which have not
their Foundation in right Reafon j or to ufe any
Means of Oppreffion, a haughty Spirit is cherifh¬
ed on one Side,, and the Defire of Revenge fre¬
quently on. the other, till the Inhabitants of the
Land are ripe for great Commotion and Trouble ^
and thus Luxury and Oppreffion have the Seedfr
of War and Defolation in them,.

So ms

u.

*3Ri ' ' nmwt/r

9 * 3arm*m *

Some Account of the Slave-Trade,’

From the Writings of Perfons ivho have been at thi
Places 'where they are firf purcbafed, viz.

BO S M A N on Guiney, who was a Fadtor for
the Dutch about lixteen Years in that Coun¬
try (Page 339) thus remarks : “ But lince I have
“ fo often mentioned that Commerce, I {hall de-
<c feribe how it is managed by our Fadtors. The
“ firft Bufinefs of one of our Fadtors, when he
“ comes to Fida , is to fatisfy the Cuftoms of the
,c King, and the great Men, which amounts to
“ about One Hundred Pounds , in Guiney Value,
“ as the Goods mull fell there. After which we
{t have free Licence to trade, which is publifhed
*{ throughout the whole Land by the Cryer. And
“ yet before we can deal with any Perfon, we
“ are obliged to buy the King’s whole Stock of
K Slaves, at a fet Price *, which is commonly one
*c Third or Fourth higher than ordinary. After
<c which, we have free Leave to deal with all his
** Subjedts, of what Rank foever. But if there
“ happen to be no Stock of Slaves, the Factor
“ mutt refolve to run the Rifk of trufting the In-
<c habitants with Goods, to the Value of One or
tc Two Hundred Slaves ; which Commodities
“ they fend into the Inland Country, in order to
“ buy with them Slaves at all Markets, and that
“ fometimes Two Hundred Miles deep in the
“ Country : For you ought to be informed, that
“ Markets of Men are here kept in the fame
Manner as they of Beafts are with us.

C 2 “ Most,

It

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cc
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l 36 ]

"re^rifonf ' 'HSweS "1!ich are offered «s;

V e Pnfoners of War, which are fold by the

JotTr aSFt leir,Booty - When thefe Slaves

come to Fida they are put in Prifons all toge-

therj and when we treat concerning them,
they aie all brought out in a large Plain, where,
by our Surgeons, whofe Province it is, they
are thoroughly examined, even to the fmalleft
Member, and that naked, both Men and Wo-
men without the leaft Diftindtion or Modehy.

hole which are approved as good, are fet on
one Side. The Invalids and Maimed being;
thrown out, the Remainder are numbered, and
it is entered who delivered them : In the mean
while a burning Iron, with the Arms or Name
ot the Company, lies in the Fire, with which
ours are marked on the Breaft. This is done,
that we may dilbnguilh them from the Slaves
of the Englijh, French, or others. When we
have agreed with the Owners of the Slaves
they are returned to their Prifons, where, from
that Time forward, they are kept at our Charge,
colt us Two-pence, a Day a Slave, which ferves
to fubfift them, like our Criminals, on Bread
and Water : So that, to lave Charges, we fend
them on board our Ships the firft Opportunity ♦
before which their Mahers ftrip them of all
they have on their Backs, fo that they come a-
board hark naked, as well Women as Men j
in which Condition they are obliged to conti¬
nue, if the Maher of the Ship is not fo chari¬
table (which he commonly is) as to bellow
fomething on them, to cover their Naked nefs.

The

v-

m §w s

1

r 37 j

k __ ^ ' T

“ The Inhabitants of Popo, as well as thofe of
“ Cot , depend on Plunder, and the Slave-Trade,

. “ n both which they very much exceed the lat-
“ ter > for being endowed with more Courage
“ fbey rob more fuccefsfully, and by that Means

increale their Trade : Notwithftanding which
“ to freight a Veffel with Slaves, require: fome
“ Months Attendance. In the Year 1697, in
“ three Days Time I could get but three Slaves ;

“ but they allured me, that if I would have Pa-
“ hence for other three Days only, thev Ihould
" be able to deliver me One or Two Hun-
“ died. Same Author, Page 310.

We call Anchor at Cape Mtzurada , but not
“ one Negroe coming on board, I went on Shore ;

“ and being defirous to be informed why they
did not come on board, was anfwered, That
“ ^out two Months before the Englijh had been
“ there, with two VelTels, and had ravaged the
“ Country, delfroyed all their Canoes, plundered
“ their Houfes, and carried off fome of their Peo¬
ple for Slaves ; upon which the Remainder fled
“ .to Inland Country. They tell us, they live
in Peace with all their Neighbours, and have
“ Notion of any other Enemy than the Eng-
“ lijh ; of which Nation they had taken fome
then . And publickly declared, that they would
“ endeavour to get as many of them, as the two
“ mentioned Ships had carried off of their Na-
<c tives. ^ 1 hefe unhappy Englijh were in Danger
“ of being facrificed to the Memory of their
“ Friends, which fome of their Nation carried
‘‘ off.” Bofman , Page 440.

EXTRACTS from a ColleSlion of

Voyages. Vol. I.

TH E Author, a Pcpijh Miffionary, fpeaking
of his departing from the P/egroe Country
to Brazil , faith, “ I remember the Duke of Bam-,
“ % (a Negroe Chief) one Day fent me feveral
Blacks, to be my Slaves, which I would not
“ accept of ; but fent them back to him. I after-
“ wards told him, I came not into his Country
<c to make Slaves ; but rather to deliver thole from
ee the Slavery of the Devil, whom he keDt in mD
<c ferable Thraldom. The Ship I went aboard
“ was loaded with Elephants Teeth, and Slaves,
“ to the Number of Six Hundred and Eighty
et Men, Women and Children, It was a pitiful
<c Sight to behold how all thefe People were be-*
" flowed. The Men were handing in the Hold,
“ fahehed one to another with Stakes,' for Fear
" they fhould rife, and kill the Whites : The
■“ W omen were between the Decks, and thole
“ that were with Child in the Great Cabbin ; The
<c Children in the Steerage, preffed together like
<e Herrings in a Barrel ; which caufed an into-*
” lerable Pleat and Stench.” Page 507.

“ It is now Time (faith the fame Author) to
(l /peak of a brutifh Cuftom thefe People have
“ among!! them, in making Slaves j which I
<c take not to be lawful for any Perfon of a good
fe Confcience to buy.” -

He then deferibes how Women betray Men
Into Slavery, and adds, “ There are others going

- ‘‘ up

n

I 39 1

■M up into the Inland Country, and, through Pre-
<c tence of Jurifdi&ion, feize Men upon any tri-
?£ fling Offence, and fell them for Slaves. P. 537.

The Author of this Trcatifc, converfing with
a Perfon of good Credit, was informed by him,
that in his Youth, while in England , he was
minded to come to America ., and happening on
a Veflel bound for Gainey , and from thence into
America , he, with a View to fee Africa , went
on board her, and continued with them in their
Voyage, and fo came into this Country. Among
other Circumftances he related thele, “ They
<£ purchaled on the Coafl: about Three Hundred
“ Slaves ; fome of them he underflood were Cap-
“ tives of War ; fome flolen by other Negroes

*l privately. - When they had got many Slaves

££ on board, but were flill on that Coafl, a Plot
l£ was laid by an old Negros , notwithflanding
** the Men had Irons on their Hands and Feet,
“ to kill the Englijh , and take the Veflel which
M being difeovered, the Man was hanged, and
ts many of the Slaves made to fhoot at him as
f£ he hung up.

“ Another Slave was charged with having a
££ Deflgn to kill the Englijh ; and the Captain
M fpoke to him in Relation to the Charge brought
££ againfl him, as he flood on Deck ; whereupon.
<£ he immediately threw himfclf into the Sea,
*c and was drowned.

“ Several Negroes , confined on board, were,
“ he faid, fo extremely uneafy with their Con-

dition, that after many Endeavours ufed, they
tt could never make them eat nor drink after

C 4 they

s

!

8

n

&

i

\ ;■ !

cc

cc

I

'jt'v

f 40 J

« .Cafme £ thc Vcffel i but in a defperate
Refolution ftarved themfelves to Death, be-

. having toward the laft like Mad-men.”

. /N RaJidali s Geography, printed 1744., We are

.nformed> .. That ,n , f;Pe of 8 «

« m nt S m°re c°mmon ^an for the Negroes of
one Nation to Heal thofe of another, and fell

„ pZ ? ?arC/,rm- 11 is bought that the

El1&1‘Jhr tranfmit annually near Fifty Thoufand

o theie unhappy Creatures ; and the other
European Nations together, about Two Hun-
“ died Thoufand more.”

It is through the Goodnefs of God that the
Information from grofs Idolatry and Barbarity
hath been thus far effeded ; if we confider our
Conditions as Chnftians, and the Benefits we en-
joy, and compare them with thc Condition of
thofe People, and confider that our Nation trad¬
ing with them for their Country Produce, have
had an Opportunity of imparting ufeful Inflruc-
tions to them, and remember that but little Pains
have been taken therein, it muft look like an In-

difference in us.- - But when we refleft on a

Cuftom the moil fhocking of any amongft them,
and remember that, with a View to outward
Gain, we have joined as Parties in it ; that our
Concuirence with them in their barbarous Pro¬
ceedings, has tended to harden them in Cruelty,
and been a Means of increafing Calamities in
their Country, we mull own that herein we
have adted contrary to thofe Worthies whofe
Lives and Subftance were {pent in propagating
Truth and Righteoufnefs amongft the Heathen.

When

Nmsia

[ 4i ]

When Saul, by the Hand of Doeg, flew Four
Score Priefts at once, he had a Jealoufy that one
of them at leaft was confederate with David, , whom

he confidered as his Enemy. - Herod flaying all

the Male Children in Bethlehem of two Years old
and under, was an Adi of uncommon Cruelty j
but he fuppofed there was a Male Child there*
within that Age, who was likely to be King of
the Jews , and finding no Way to deflroy him,
but by deftroying them all, thought this the moft

effedlual Means to fecure the Kingdom to his
own Family.

When the Sentence againfl the Proteflants of
Martndoly &c. in France , was put in Execution,
great Numbers of People fled to the Wildernefs*
amongfl whom were ancient People, Women
great with Child, and others with Babes in their
Arms, who endured Calamities grievous to relate,
and in the End 1'ome perifhed with Hunger, and
many were deftroyed by Fire and Sword ; but
they had this Objedtion againfl them, That they
obflinately perflfled in Oppofition to Holy Mother
Church, and being Hereticks, it was right to
work their Ruin and Extirpation, and raze out
their Memory from among Men. FoxcV Adis
and Monuments , Page 646.

In Favour of thofe Cruelties, every one had

what they deemed a Plea. - Thefe Scenes of

Blood and Cruelty among the barbarous Inhabi¬
tants of Gurney , are not lefs terrible than thofe
now mentioned. They are continued from one
Age to another, and we make ourfelves Parties
and F ellow-helpers in them ; nor do I fee that

m

r 42 i

wc have any Plea in our Favour more plaufible

than the Plea of Saul, of Herod, or the French
in thole Slaughters.

Many who are Parties in this Trade, by
keeping Slaves with Views of Self-intereft, were
they to go as Soldiers in one of thefe Inland Ex-
Fe ^10jS catch Slaves, they mud neceflarily
grow diflatisfied with fuch Employ, or ceafe to
profefs their religious Principles. And though
the firit and moll ttriking Part of the Scene'is
done at a great Pittance, and by other Hands,
yct every one who is acquainted with the Cir**
cumftances, and notwithstanding joins in it for
^he Sake of Gain oniy^ mutt, in the Nature of
.Things, be chargeable with the others,

Should we conflder ourfelv.es prelent as Spec?*
tators, when cruel Negroes privately catch in no**
cent Children, who are employed in the Fields $
fiear their lamentable Cries, under the molt ter-?
rifying Apprehensions ; or fhould we look upon
it as happening in our own Families, having our
Children carried off by Savages, we mutt: needs
own, that liich Proceedings are contrary to the
Nature of Chrittianity : Should we meditate on the
Wars which are greatly increafed by this Trade,
and on that Affliction which many Thouiands live
in, through Apprehenfions of being taken or Plain ;
on the Terror and Amazement that Villages are
in, when furrounded by thefe Troops of Enter-
prifers \ on the great Pain and Mifery of groaning
dying Men, who get wounded in thofe Skirmifh-
cs j we fflali neceflarily fee, that it is impoflible

to

*Ǥw

T WSPW’I JKUP'JHBI

J

t 43 ]

to be Parties in fuch a Trade, on the Motives of
Gain, and retain our Innocence.

Should we confider the Cafe of Multitudes of
thofe People, who in a fruitful Soil, and hot Cli¬
mate, with a little Labour, raife Grain, Roots
and Pulfe, to cat ; fpin and weave Cotton, and
fallen together the large Feathers of Fowls, to
cover their Nakednefs ; many of whom, in much
Simplicity, live inoffenfive in their Cottages, and
take great Comfort in railing up Children.

Should we contemplate on their Circumllan-
pes, when fuddenly attacked, and labour to un-
derlland their inexpreffible Anguilh of Soul, who
furvive the Conflict j Ihould we think on inoflfen-
live Women, who fled at the Alarm, and at their
Return faw that Village, in which they and their
^Acquaintance were raifed up, and had pleafantly
fpent their youthful Days, now lying in a gloomy
Defolation ; forqe Ihocked at finding the mangled
Bodies of their near Friends amonglt the Slain ;
others bemoaning the Abfence of a Brother, a Si¬
ller, a Child, or a whole Family of Children,
who, by cruel Men, are bound and carried to
Market, to be fold, without the leaft Hopes of
feeing them again : Add to this, the afflicted Con¬
dition of thefe poor Captives, who are feparated
from Family Connections, and all the Comforts
arifing from Friendlhip and Acquaintance, carried
amongll a People of a llrange Language, to be
parted from their Fellow Captives, put to Labour
in a Manner more fervile and wearifome than
what they were ufed to, with many forrowful
Circumftances attending their Slavery 5 and we

mull

jgffl / \

I [ 44 ]

muft necefiarily fee, that it belongs not to the
followers of Christ to be Parties in fuch a
Irade, on the Motives of outward Gain.

Though there were Wars and Defolations a-
inong the Negroes, before the Europeans began to
tra e there for Slaves, yet now the Calamities are
greatly increaied, lb many Thoufands being an¬
nually brought from thence j and we, by pur-
ciafing them, with Views of Self-intereft, are

become Parties with them, and acceflary to that
Increafe.

In this Cafe, we are not joining againft an Ene¬
my who is fomenting Difcords on our Continent,
and uling all poffible Means to make Slaves of us

and our Children j but againft a People who have
not injured us.

If thofe who were Ipoiled and wronged, fhould
at length make Slaves of their Opprefiors, and
continue Slavery to their Pofterity, it would look
rigorous to candid Men : But to aft that Part
toward a People, when neither they nor their
Fathets have injured us, hath lomething in it ex¬
traordinary, and requires our ferious Attention.

Our Children breaking a Bone j getting lb
bruiled, that a Leg or an Arm muft be taken off ;
loft for a few Hours, fo that we defpair of their
being found again j a Friend hurt, lo that he di-
eth in a Day or two ; thefe move us with Grief : *
And did we attend to thefe Scenes in Africa , in
like Manner as if they were tranfadled in our Pre¬
fence ; and fympathife with the Negroes , in all
their Afflictions and Miferies, as we do with our
Children or Friends ; we Ihould be more careful

to

1 W*W*RW

. [ . 45 ]

to do nothing in any Degree helping forward a
Trade produdtive of fo many, and fo great Cala¬
mities. Great Diftance makes nothing in our Fa¬
vour. - To willingly join with Unrighteoulnefs,

to the Injury of Men who live fome Thoufand
Miles off, is the lame in Subllance, as joining
with it to the Injury of our Neighbours. 6

In the Eye of pure Juftice, Adtions are regard¬
ed according to the Spirit and Difpofition they
arife from : Some Evils are accounted fcandalous,
and the Delire of Reputation may keep felfilh Men
from appearing openly in them ; but he who is
Ihy on that Account, and yet by indiredt Means
promotes that Evil, and lhares in the Profit of it,
cannot be innocent.

He who, with View to Self-intereft, buys a
Slave, made fo by Violence, and only on the
Strength of fuch Purchafe holds him a Slave,
thereby joins Hands with thole who committed
that Violence, and in the Nature of Things be¬
comes chargeable with the Guilt.

Suppose a Man wants a Slave, and being in
Gurney, goes and hides by the Path where Boys
pafs from one little Town to another, and there
catches one the Day he expedts to fail j and taking
mm on board, brings him home, without any
aggravating Circumftances. Suppofe another buys
a Man, taken by them who live by Plunder and
the Slave-Trade : They often fteal them private¬
ly, and often lhed much Blood in getting them.
He who buys the Slave thus taken, pays thofe

Men for their Wickednefs, and makes himfelf
r'arty with them.

What-

[ 46 1

Whatever Nicety of Diflinaion there may
he, betwixt going in Perfon on Expeditions to
catch Slaves, and buying thole, with a View to
Self-intereft, which others have taken j it is clear
and plain to an upright Mind, that fuch Diftinc-
tion is in Words, not in Subftance ; for the Par¬
ties are concerned in the fame Work, and have a
jaecelTai y Connection with, and Dependance on,
each other 5 for were there none to purchafe
Slaves, they who live by ftealing and felling them,
would of Confequence do lefs at it.

Some would buy a Negroe brought from Gui-
ney, with a View to Self-intereff, and keep him a
Slave, who yet would feem to fcruple to take
Arms, and join with Men employed in taking
Slaves.

Others have civil Negroes, who were bom
in our Country, capable and likely to manage
well for themfelves ; whom they keep as Slaves,
without ever trying them with Freedom, and take
the Profit of their Labour as a Part of their Eftates,
and yet difapprove bringing them from their own
Country.

If thofe Negroes had come here, as Merchants,'
with their Ivory and Gold Dull, in order to trade
with us, and fome powerful Perfon had took their
EffeCts to himfelf, and then put them to hard
Labour, and ever after confidered them as Slaves,
the ACtion would be looked upon as unrighteous.

Th ose Negroe Merchants having Children
after their being among us, whofe Endowments
and ConduCt were like other Peoples in common,
who attaining to mature Age, and requeuing to

have

- *

have their Liberty, Ihould be told they were born
in Slavery, and were lawful Slaves, and there¬
fore their Requeft denied j the Conduit of fuch
Perfons toward them, would be looked upon a9
unfair and oppreffive.

In the preient Cafe, relating to Home-bom
Negroes > whole Underftandings and Behaviour
are as good as common among other People, if
we have any Claim to them as Slaves, that Claim
is grounded on their being the Children or Off.
fpring of Slaves, who, in general, were mada
fuch through Means as unrighteous, and attended
with more terrible Circumftances than the Cafe
here fuppofed fo that when we trace our Claim
to the Bottom, thefe Home-bom Negroes having
paid for their Education, and given reafonable
Security to thole who owned them, in cafe of
their becoming chargeable, we have no more
equitable Right to their Service, than we Ihould
if they were the Children of honeft Merchants
who came from Guiney in an Englijh VelTel t©
trade with us.

If we claim any Right to them as the Chil¬
dren of Slaves, we build on the Foundation laid
by them, who made Slaves of their Anceftors;
fo that of Neceffity we mull either juftify the
Trade, or relinquilh our Right to them, as being
the Children of Slaves.

Why Ihould it feem right to hone ft Men to
make Advantage by thele People more than by
others ? Others enjoy Freedom, receive Wages,
equal to their W ork, at, or near, fuch Time as
they have difeharged thele equitable Obligations

-[ 4& ]

Aey are under to thofe who educated them.—,
1 nele have made no Contract to ferve • been
no more expenfive in raffing up than others, and
many of them appear as likely to make a right Ufe
of Freedom as other People ; which Wav then
can an honed Man withhold from them that Li¬
berty, which is the free Gift of the Mod High
to his rational Creatures ?

.Upnght in Heart cannot fucceed the
m their Wickednefsj nor is it confonant
to the Life they live, to hold fad an Advantage
unjultly gained. < ®

The Negroes who live by Plunder, and the
Slave-Trade, Heal poor innocent Children, invade
their Neighbours Territories, and fpill much Blood
to get thefe Slaves : And can it be poffible for an
honed: Man to think that, with View to Self-
intered, we may continue Slavery to the Offspring
of thefe unhappy Sufferers, merely becaufe they
are the Children of Slaves, and not have a Share
of this Guilt.

It is granted by many, that the Means ufed in
getting them are unrighteous, and that buying
them, when brought here, is wrong ; yet as fet-
ting them free is attended with fome Difficulty,
they do not comply with it j but feem to be of
the Opinion, that to give them Food and Rai¬
ment, and keep them Servants, without any other
Wages, is the bed Way to manage them that they
know of : And hoping that their Children after
them will not be cruel to the Negroes, conclude
to leave them as Slaves to their Children.

While

[ 49 ]

While prefent outward Interefl is the chief
Objed of our Attention, we fhall feel many O'o-
iedions in our Minds againfl renouncing our Claim
to them, as the Children of Slaves ; for being pre-
pofleffed with wrong Opinions, prevents our leeing
Things clearly, which, to indifferent Perfons, are
eafy to be leen.

Suppose a Perfon Seventy Years part, in low
Circumflances, bought a Negroe Man and Wo¬
man, and that the Children of fuch Perfon are
now wealthy, and have the Children of fuch
Slaves. Admit that the firft Negroe Man and his
Wife did as much Bufinefs as their Matter and
Miftrefs, and that the Children of the Slaves have
done feme more than their young Mailers : S jp-
pofe, on the whole, that the Expence of Living
has been lefs on the Negroes Side, than on the
other (all which are no improbable Suppotttions)
it follows, that in Equity thefe Negroes have a
Right to a Part of this Increafe ; that fhould fome
Difficulties arife on their being fet free, there is
Reafon for us patiently to labour through them.

As the Condud of Men varies, relating to Ci¬
vil Society; fo different Treatment isjuftly due
to them. Indifcreet Men occasion Trouble in the
World ; and it remains to be the Care of fuch,
who feek the Good of Mankind, to admoniih as
they find Occafion.

The Siothfulnefs of fome of them, in providing
for themfelves and Families, it is likely, would
require the Notice of their Neighbours ; nor is it
unlikely that fome would, with Jufhce, be made

Servants, and others punifhed for their Crimes.

1 D Pure

4

*7*

\

[ 5° ]

Pure Juftice points out to each Individual their
Je , "'ut to deny a People the Privilege of hu-
naan Creatures, on a Suppofition that, bein? free
naatyv of them would be troublefome to us,° is to
mix the Condition of good and bad Men top-ether
and treat the whole as the word: of them deferve’
If we tenoully confider, that Liberty is the

* 1 n °r lnnocent Men J that the Mighty God
is a Refuge for the Oppreffed ; that in Realty wc
are indebted t6 them , that they being fet free,
are ftiil liable to the Penalties of our Laws, and as
likely to have Pumfhment for their Crimes as
o ler People : This may anfwer all our Objec¬
tions. And to retain them in perpetual Servitude
without juft Caufe for it, will produce Effedts, in
the Event, more grievous than fetting them free
would do, when a real Love to Truth and Equi¬
ty was the Motive to it. q

Our Authority over them ftands originally in
a P archaic made from thofe who, as to the ge¬
neral, obtained theirs by Unrighteoufnefs. When-
evei we have Recourfe to luch Authority, it tends
more or lefs to obftrudt the Channels, through

which the perfedt Plant in us receives Nourifh-
ment.

. There is a Principle, which is pure, placed
in the human Mind, which in different Places
and Ages bath had different Names j it is, how¬
ever, pure, and proceeds from God. — It is deep,
and inward, confined to no Forms of Religion,
nor excluded from any, where the Heart ftands
in pei fedf Sincerity. In whomfoever this takes
Root, and grows, of what Nation foever, they

become

I 51 ]

become Brethren, in the beft Senfe of the Ex>
preflion. Ufing ourfelves to take Ways which
appear moft eafy to us, when inconfiftent with
that Purity which is without Beginning, we there¬
by fet up a Government of our own, and deny
Obedience to him, whofe Service is true Liberty.

He that has a Servant, made fo wrongfully,
and knows it to be fo, when he treats him other-
wife than a free Man, when he reaps the Benefit
of his Labour, without paying him fuch Wages
as are reasonably due to free Men for the like Ser¬
vice, Cloaths excepted ; thefe Things, tho’ done
in Calmnefs, without any Shew of Diforder, do
yet deprave the Mind in like Manner, and with as
great Certainty, as prevailing Cold congeals Wa¬
ter. Thefe Steps taken by Mafters, and their Con¬
duct ftriking the Minds of their Children, whilfb
young, leave lefs Room for that which is good to
work upon them. The Cuftoms of their Parents,'
their Neighbours, and the People with whom they
converfe, working upon their Minds ; ' and they,
from thence, conceiving Ideas of Things, and
Modes of Condudt, the Entrance into their Hearts
becomes, in a great Meafure, fhut up againft the
gentle Movings of uncreated Purity.

From one Age to another, the Gloom grows
thicker and darker, till Error gets eftablifhed by
general Opinion ; that whoever attends to perfedt
Goodnefs, and remains under the melting Influ¬
ence of it, finds a Path unknown to many, and
fees the Neceffity to lean upon the Arm of Divine
Strength, and dwell alone, or with a few, in
the right committing their Caufe to him, who

[ 5^ ]

is a Refuge for his People, in all their Troubles.

Where, through the Agreement of a Multi¬
tude, fome Channels of Juftice are flopped, and
Men may fupport their Characters as juft Men, by
being juft to a Party, thesis great Danger of con-
trading an Alliance with that Spirit, which ftands
in Oppofition to the God of Love, and fpreads
Difcord, Trouble and Vexation among fuch who
give up to the Influence of it.

Negroes are our Fellow Creatures, and their
prefent Condition amengft us requires our ferious
Confideration. We know not the Time wheri
thole Scales, in which Mountains are weighed,
may turn. The Parent of Mankind is gracious :
His Care is over his fmalleft Creatures ; and a
Multitude of Men efcape not his Notice : And
though many of them are trodden down, and de~
fpifed, yet he remembers them : Fie feeth their
Affliction, and looketh upon the Spreading increa-
flng Exaltation of the Opprelfor. He turns the
Channels of Power, humbles the moft haughty
People, and gives Deliverance to the OpprelTed,
at fuch Periods as are confident with his infinite
Juftice and Goodnefs. And wherever Gain is pre¬
ferred to Equity, and wrong Things publickly
encouraged to that Degree, that Wickednefs takes
Root, and fpreads wide amongft the Inhabitants
• of a Country, there is real Caufe for Sorrow to all
fuch, whole Love to Mankind ftands on a true
Principle, and \vifely conlider the End and Event
of Things.

FINIS .

v

I

UJ ' \ \2\'c_

*

X